The Chicago Foreign Language Press Survey was published in 1942 by the Chicago Public Library Omnibus Project of the Works Progress Administration of Illinois. The purpose of the project was to translate and classify selected news articles that appeared in the foreign language press from 1855 to 1938. The project consists of 120,000 typewritten pages translated from newspapers of 22 different foreign language communities of Chicago.

Illinois Staats-Zeitung -- August 22, 1873

The poor boys and girls who have suddenly been transplanted from their sunny homeland "far down South" into our rough climate, and have to secure through begging and singing a sum sufficient to save them from punishment on their return home, have become recently an object of public attention.

A reporter from the Staats Zeitung went yesterday to interview the Italian Consul, Mr. Cella, an educated and friendly gentleman. Here is what Mr. Cella had to say: "In my opinion most of the reports concerning the Italian musician street children are exaggerated. My compatriots and I feel deeply the degradation of the life of these children. It is true that these children must bring home a certain sum every evening to escape 2punishment; it is also true that this roaming about causes the moral ruin of these children; but it is not true that there are here from 400 to 500 children, who depend on their "padrone" and belong to him. The total number of Italian inhabitants here does not exceed 4,000. The number of children musicians, according to my estimate, runs from 125 to 150, and most of them are under the supervision, not of a padrone, but of their parents.

"To my mind," concluded Mr. Cella, "the only way to stop this practice is to have a city ordinance passed forbidding begging by playing music." Mr. Cella's plan seems very sensible to us. But we do not consider it a mitigating circumstance even if the "slaveholders" are not strangers but the parents of the children. We hope that the Italians will put an end to taking advantage of these children.

C. Hoffmann

The poor boys and girls who have suddenly been transplanted from their sunny homeland "far down South" into our rough climate, and have to secure through begging and singing a ...

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Illinois Staats-Zeitung -- January 16, 1877

The shameful trade in Italian children, a practice which has already been revealed in several cities and prosecuted more than once, has also come to light here. Emmanuel Mallelo an Italian living at 527 S. Clark Street, was subjected to a severe grilling in the South Side Police Station for alleged slave dealing in Italian children. Here is what happened: A little boy unable to speak English, freezing and crying, was met by a policeman, who brought him to an Italian man to help as an interpreter. The child said that his father had rented him out to Mallelo for $25 a year. He was forced to walk daily through the streets with a harp on his back and to play music. The money thus collected he had to give to his cruel master in the evening. It fared bad with him every time he did not hand over a certain minimum amount to his torturer. He was then beaten, received nothing to eat and forced out again into the dark night to complete the required sum. If he was again unsuccessful, he had to look for another shelter or sleep in the open.

The court proceedings revealed that Mallelo was keeping eight boys in similar bondage. He gave the boys shelter and food for one dollar a week. Investigations are continuing. It is to be hoped that charitable people will be found to take care of the little Italian slaves.

The shameful trade in Italian children, a practice which has already been revealed in several cities and prosecuted more than once, has also come to light here. Emmanuel Mallelo an ...

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Illinois Staats-Zeitung -- January 16, 1877

The shameful trade in Italian children which has already made its appearance in several cities and been prosecuted more than once has also come to light here. Emmanuel Mallelo, an Italian, living at 527 S. Clark St. was subjected to a severe grilling in the Southside police station for alleged Slave dealing in Italian children. Here is what happened: A little boy, unable to speak English, was met by a policeman freezing and crying. The friendly night policeman brought the boy to an Italian man, to help out as interpreter. The little one told, that his father had rented him out to Mallelo for twenty-five dollars a year. For that he was obliged to walk daily through the streets with his harp on his back and play music. The money thus collected he had to give to his cruel master in the evening. It was too bad for him if he did not hand over a minimum amount to his torturer. He was then beaten and received nothing to eat. Often he was sent out again into the dark night to complete the sum. If he was again unsuccessful he had to look for another shelter or sleep in the open.

The court proceeding revealed that Mallelo was keeping eight boys in similar bondage. He gave the boys shelter and food for one dollar a week. Investigations are continuing. It is to be hoped that charitable people will be found to take care of the little Italian slave.

The shameful trade in Italian children which has already made its appearance in several cities and been prosecuted more than once has also come to light here. Emmanuel Mallelo, an ...

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L'italia -- October 25, 1886

From thousands of Italians in this city, there are but a few Italian business people with whom Italians deal. Giannelli has a grocery store with a variety of Italian foods which Italians crave. John Caraccioli is another business man whom Italians patronize, because he is the only one selling religious articles. In this city, there are many Italian Societies in which many are members. They have also organized another society which is called the Italian Singing Society.

(Canto Italiano).

From thousands of Italians in this city, there are but a few Italian business people with whom Italians deal. Giannelli has a grocery store with a variety of Italian foods ...

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L'italia -- October 25, 1886

Out of the thousands of Italians in this city, only a few have entered into its business life. Granelli, one of the leading grocers, deals exclusively in Italian products. He carries a complete line of imported Italian foods, in cans and in bulk. A place of business much frequented by religious Italians, is the religious goods store operated by John Caraccioli.

The social and political life of the Colony is carried on by many societies and clubs. One, most recently formed, is the Italian Singing Society. The society with a martial flavor to it is the Societa dei Bersaglieri, whose members have served as Bersaglieri under the Italian flag.

Observations of an Italian Traveler in Chicago. Out of the thousands of Italians in this city, only a few have entered into its business life. Granelli, one of the leading ...

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L'italia -- November 01, 1886

Thursday night we will have the pleasure of assisting the Florentine Mandoline orchestra. Professor Cesare Valise will be in charge of the concert which will be given for the benefit of the Chicago Press Club. Since we are taking part in this affair, we are asking our colony to be there, because it will be of great interest to us.

Thursday night we will have the pleasure of assisting the Florentine Mandoline orchestra. Professor Cesare Valise will be in charge of the concert which will be given for the benefit ...

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L'italia -- December 13, 1886

It has been said that this will be La Patti's last time in Chicago. La Patti will sing at the Central Music Hall Monday the 13th and Thursday the 16th. On Monday night she will sing arias from the second act of "Semiranide" and on Thursday night she will sing selections from the third act of "Faust". An orchestra of fifty musicians will be under the direction of Professor Louis Arditi. Among the assisting artists are Mrs. Scalchi, Mr. Albert Giulle, Mr. Anthony Galassi and Mr. F. Novra.

It has been said that this will be La Patti's last time in Chicago. La Patti will sing at the Central Music Hall Monday the 13th and Thursday the 16th. ...

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L'italia -- January 15, 1887

The Most Reverend Fathers Moretti & Compagina gave a concert for the benfit of the Italian Church at "Uhlich's Hall". The big hall was full of both men and women, many of whom were representatives of social parties of the colony. These societies are considering the opening of an Italian school similar to the school in New York which is under the direction of Father Mazziotta.

The Most Reverend Fathers Moretti &amp; Compagina gave a concert for the benfit of the Italian Church at "Uhlich's Hall". The big hall was full of both men and women, ...

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L'italia -- April 02, 1887

A Political Club was formed by Italians of Chicago to place their candidate in office so that he may represent the interests of the Italians in the City Hall. The purpose of this club is to see that every Italian becomes a citizen of this country in order that he have the right to vote and the opportunity to hold office. Out of this one club two were formed. One club was called Democratic and the other Republican. From these two clubs, one man would be elected who would best serve the interests of the Italians in Chicago.

A Political Club was formed by Italians of Chicago to place their candidate in office so that he may represent the interests of the Italians in the City Hall. The ...

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L'italia -- April 23, 1887

A monument in honor of Guiseppe Garibaldi will be erected by the Italians of Chicago, as a token of their love and esteem for their native land and its great hero and liberator. A sum of $1,300 to finance the memorial was collected at a celebration last February.

The Italians of the large and growing colony will pay homage to the memory of the hero of two worlds who with his own hand led the country to freedom. That tribute of gratitude and affection, together with the most profound veneration that every Italian should have in his heart for Guiseppe Garibaldi, has received the able assistance of the Italians of New York who are taking an even more active part in American politics than are the Italians of Chicago.

A monument in honor of Guiseppe Garibaldi will be erected by the Italians of Chicago, as a token of their love and esteem for their native land and its great ...